Parliament urged to strengthen climate financing as Malawi braces for El Niño – EnviroNews

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Faith leaders and civil society organisations have called on Parliament to strengthen climate finance oversight, boost investment in climate resilience and enhance disaster preparedness as Malawi braces for the impacts of anticipated El Niño conditions.

The appeal was made on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, during an engagement between the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Climate Change and a coalition of faith-based and civil society organisations, including the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB), the Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM), the Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy (CEPA) and the Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC).

The meeting, organised by Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurchAid (NCA-DCA) under the Voices for Climate Justice Project, focused on strengthening parliamentary oversight of climate finance and ensuring resources reach communities most vulnerable to climate-related disasters.

NCA-DCA Malawi Head of Programmes, Paul Manjamwada, said although Malawi contributes less than 0.04 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, it remains one of the countries most severely affected by climate change.

He urged Parliament to strengthen oversight of climate financing, increase domestic investment in climate adaptation and resilience, and enforce environmental laws to curb deforestation and other drivers of environmental degradation.

“Malawi contributes very little to global emissions, yet it continues to bear the devastating impacts of climate change. This calls for stronger accountability in climate financing and greater investment in protecting vulnerable communities,” Manjamwada said.

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Climate Change, Tione Andsen Hendry, acknowledged the urgency of the climate crisis and reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to ensuring climate resources are used effectively.

He said the committee would continue exercising its oversight role to strengthen climate resilience and protect communities increasingly exposed to droughts, floods and other climate shocks.

The engagement also reviewed findings on international climate finance commitments, national climate budget allocations and recommendations aimed at improving transparency, accountability and disaster preparedness in Malawi.

By Phillimon Backson, AfricaBrief